Taxis in Rome
Taxis can be a fast and convenient way to get around Rome, but sadly they can also be expensive, unreliable, and not always honest. When another mode of transport is available, it's usually a good idea to take it, but there are times, e.g. late at night, when a taxi is your best bet.
Official licensed Roman taxis are white, with a sign on the roof and the driver's license information on the door. The average journey across the city centre, taking no more than fifteen minutes, shouldn't cost much more than €10-€15. You may want to familiarise yourself with some of the more common Rome taxi scams, below.
Taxis between Rome and the Airports
There is now a fixed rate fare for travel between the centre of Rome (within the walls) and the airports: getting to and from Fiumicino costs €40 while getting to and from Ciampino costs €30. This price includes up to four passengers, and all luggage. However, some taxi drivers are more honest than others (see below), so it's worth confirming the fixed tariff before getting in.
Taxi Scams
It's a sad fact of life in Rome that there are plenty of people out to scam the unwitting tourist (or local, for that matter). This is particularly true when taking taxis in Rome, and there are several common scams worth watching out for. You may want to print out and take with you a copy of the Comune's official Rome taxi tariff. (That's in English, and links to a slightly more detailed Italian version.)
Be especially vigilant when taking taxis from major tourist hotspots like the airports or Termini station. Some people also suggest that you write down the license number of the cab (and the telephone number of the company) when you first get in.
- Unlicensed Taxis: Never, ever take an unlicensed or unofficial taxi. These are a problem particularly around the airports and at Termini, where touts pick up tourists. Drivers of licensed cabs never tout like this. Always go to an official taxi rank (marked by a yellow sign), and only take official taxis, which are white and have a taxi sign on the roof, and the license information on the door.
- Not Using the Meter: Unless you're travelling on one of the two fixed-tarrif journeys (between Rome and the airports), make sure the driver is using the meter.
- Switching Tariffs: The taxi meter will display which tariff is being used: Tariff 1 is the standard rate, used within the GRA ring road. Tariff 2 is more expensive, and should only be turned on when travelling on or outside the GRA. Other supplements, such as night travel, are applied once, when the meter is switched on.
There were rumours in 2009 that Tariff 2 was due to be abolished, but as of early 2010, it's still in place. We'll update this page if the situation changes... - Bill-Switching: Taxi drivers in Rome have been known to take advantage of tourists' unfamiliarity with euros by claiming that you've underpaid them, that the €20 you gave them was actually €5, the €50 a €10, etc. You can try to avoid this by handing over notes one at a time, stating clearly what each one is. (Bear in mind that Rome isn't a huge city: if you're handing over several notes, especially large ones, you may also be getting overcharged.)
- Avoiding the Destination: If your driver takes you almost-but-not-quite to your hotel, trying to drop you round the corner, say, or a couple of hundred yards up the street, be wary. They sometimes do this when they're planning to rip you off, and don't want a bellboy or porter to interfere.
If you do have a bad experience with a taxi driver in Rome, you can report them to the Carabinieri (Tel.112), or download a complaint form from the Comune here: Taxi Complaint Form. There are of course good taxi drivers out there, but Rome has a high percentage of the other sort.
